Vogue Brides // The One And Only

I've never bought a bridal magazine before. I've always been too worried that I would be at Woolies paying for my groceries and the check out lady would say something like 

"Ohhhhh.. whens the big day?" or something else just as nosey. I have no business buying these mags, aside from the fact that it is a really big part of my business. 

So, for all of you closet wanna be buying wedding magazines wish you were bridezillas out there - I have some good news for you. The latest issue of Vogue Brides comes included with the latest issue of regular ol' Vogue. So when you get home and see your BF, you can be all like - 

OH! whats this? A WEDDING MAGAZINE?!! HOW DID THAT GET IN HERE! Hint hint nudge nudge. 

AND not just that- 

It also features the overwhelmingly awesome wedding of Candice Lake & Didier Ryan that took place earlier this year in Whale Beach. And you know who did the flowers right?

The one and only- No I don't think they are referring to me on the title page. Or maybe?

 

I am really proud to be in the white book alongside other really incredible creatives

VENUE & ADDITIONAL FLOWERS // MOBY DICKS

CAKE // HELLO NAOMI

PHOTOGRAPHY// LIZ HAM

To read more about this day visit here

A big huge congratulations to the beautiful couple. Thank you for working with me on the flowers and inspiring my creations. 

xx

Mr & Mrs Monoffee Pie

Theres a long time between a wedding and the wedding photos surfacing. Some would say its torture. Well I would. Its a really really long time to wait.. because as a florist, you dont (usually) attend the wedding and you dont (usually) get to see the wedding flowers in action. When I saw that Mon & Franco's wedding photos had been featured on Hello May 

I nearly caused a five car pile up. Yes, I was in the car, yes I had to pull over and look. 
The thing that I loved most about the post was that Mon shared the story of how they got engaged. Its mouth watering.. 

Doesn't that little story just make you feel like a double scoop of Monoffee Pie or what?!

Now, for those not in the nose- Messina is just about the best gelato joint on earth. One time I was there standing in line and the customer infront of me said to the Messina Man- 

"Do you think its ok for me to take this on the plane?" 

I sort of laughed. What fool thinks they can hold onto a tub of Messina the whole way to the airport without eating it all.

The Messina Man said - "Where are you headed" to which the customer replied

"Singapore"

SEE. PEOPLE ARE CRAZY FOR THIS SHIZ.

AND

CAPT FRANCO IS CRAZY FOR MONOFFEE PIE

AND

NOW THEY LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Photos of their beautiful wedding below are by Rachel Kara via Hello May 

come on over

For those who have wanted to come over, but I have never invited you, well then this is the moment. Shop Til You Drop popped in for a visit so they could share my space with your face.

You might have to get your own cup of tea because I might forget to offer you one, and I'm telling you right now, its not usually this tidy around here, and Im not always sitting around reading my favourite flowery books in my vintage prom dress... But you can get cosy on the couch while I ignore you. Because thats what usually happens when people come over.

ps. Please dont go in the spare room. You might never come out. 

Thats where the mess monsters live.

WW pt 2

+Good by flower arranging HELLO  hand modelling. 

Love this photo that has popped up on the ORACLE FOX blog

More photos from the amazing Winston Wolfe launch I couldn't resist over sharing with you. 

 

all photos via Oracle Fox 

Power to the People

I am a power to the people person. Yes its true. Urge footwear says so. 

The other day the Urgeys came over and we shot this little project together for their Winter 13 campaign. Its a campaign that celebrates individuals. I think it celebrates individuals for being awesome and for... nope just for being awesome.

CHECK IT OUT!  

PS. GUESS WHAT?

THERES A VIDEO!!!!!!!!

HOLLY HIPWELL X URGE FOOTWEAR from URGE FOOTWEAR on Vimeo.

AND THERES LOTS OF PHOTOS OF ME MAKING THE VIDEO!!

IS VIDEO EVEN A WORD PEOPLE USE THESE DAYS? AM I SAYING IT WRONG?

VIDEO!!!!!!

 

Thank you Urge for a fun day and for wanting to share my pip-squeak chipmunk voice with the world.  I promise to use my new 'power to the people' powers wisely.

Winston Wolfe x The Flower Drum

A while back, Kristie AKA Mrs Wolfe AKA the babe with the brains emailed me to say that she was hosting an event in Sydney for her brand Winston Wolfe. She said that from day dot, she had wanted me to create something for her. She also reminded me of the second time we met and I said something along the lines of "I love flowers so much I just want to rub them in my face." Great way to make a good second first impression. 

(I am such a proffessioNAIL bizznizz woman)

Anyway, the upcoming campaign launch was to be that day that I made something. 

The campaign was shot by Pierre Toussaint and the vibe was all deluxury leather, boobs, cups of tea and static telly, so of course she needed flowers.  We met up at the studio and she told me about how she wanted her launch to be in a secret garden, but when I looked around, it was nothing but white walls. She wanted to transform the space and hang giant images, and I wanted to make a tunnel.

You see, most of the time I really have no idea what I am doing. I have my lightbulb moments and I open my mouth and say things like "LETS MAKE A GIANT TUNNEL INTO THE GALLERY" and the client says "YEAAAHHH" and then I leave the meeting thinking what the heck! 

Why did I say that?! I've never made a tunnel.

Well listen here guy who made the Sydney Harbour tunnel, theres a new tunnel maker in town!

See... everyone wants to hang out in the flower tunnel. It makes people happy and beautiful. 

Move over flower wall. Flower tunnels are where its at.

HH hits HK

Last month I went to Hong Kong.

Well I actually started writing this post last month. SO... a couple of months ago I went to Hong Kong!

See, this is PROOF!

Anyway, I was there on family business. My half sister was having her bat mitzvah. 

Now, I've never been to one of those before, so I thought it was an event not to be missed. 

I hope I haven't lost you already, because I know that you didn't know that I had a half sister, nor did you know that I used to live in Hong Kong. 

ANYWAY. Hanna wanted me to do some flowers for her big deal day, so I went to the flower markets. In Hong Kong

I don't think they can grow much in Hong Kong, apart from teddy bears to make teddy bear bouquets, so they import the good stuff from all over the world. It was wonderful to reconnect with my out  buddies-  Mrs Ranunculus, Lady Anemone & Mr Peony. There were a bunch of others there too.

Get it. BUNCH.

I couldn't believe it when I ran into Steve Martin!  Just kidding. Thats my dad.

He loves shopping.

AND I LOVE SHOPPING TOO. That must be where I get it from. Thats a joke too. 

My mum has been training me since I was three years old.

. 

 After we stocked up on flowers, vases and teddy bear bouquets, Harry Highpants and I headed back to Chabad lubavitch where I made up the arrangements and felt extremely not Jewish. 

My dad sort of helped. And by helped I mean, he showed me some stuff on his ipad. 

He tried to do some bouquet modeling (on the left), but he didn't quite have that bouquet holding je ne sais quoi. Am I right?

carnie come back

The Greek call them dianthus caryophyllus— for those who aren't greek it means-

 “flower of the gods”

or in regular people speak - carnations.

A really brief history of the carnation -  by Holly Hipwell

For some 2000 years, carnations have held a high position in the flower ranks - possibly due to their long lastingness, their fresh scent, secret meanings,  and their ability to maintain form after being run over with a 4WD... But then one day something bad happened. 

Im not sure exactly what, because I wasn't there, but rumour has it, a carnation was spied getting all bouq'cozy  with some babies breath. I know! OMG. 

Anyway, they were immediately dumped into the NOT GOOD flower files, because that kind of fraternising just isn't on. 

 While most flower shops turned their backs on the carnations, underground floral boutiques such as "Woolies" "Coles" & "BP" backed the bloom, allowing it to escape extinction. And now in 2013, the carnation is making a come back. Im telling you now. You better believe it.

Its coming back. 

Its back. 

THE END. 

You know what else?

Carnations are THE official flower of mothers day. 

Just like Passion Pop is THE official drink of turning 18 and Nutri Grain is THE official cereal of the Olympics.. 

You know what else?

CARNATIONS ARE THE OFFICIAL FLOWER OF THE FLOWER BOMB!

To celebrate carnations and our mums, we are hosting a special Mothers Day Flower Bombing Class @ The School. ON MOTHERS DAY!

To make a booking or to ask questions, go here - THE SCHOOL